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Water Polo

Water Polo Competition | Tuesday, July 7, 2015 to Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Water polo is the oldest team sport in the Olympic Games. At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, it was the only time that the Canadian men’s team had ever qualified for the Olympics through the normal process. Canada has placed in the top three in the past five Pan Am Games and in 2011, including this year right here in Markham with a silver for the women’s team, and a bronze for the men.

Team Canada

Tue, Jul 14

Women

Silver

Team Canada

Wed, Jul 15

Men

Bronze

Venue

History

The sport of aquatics had an early start; Egyptian hieroglyphics discovered from the Stone Age showed people swimming. Around 400 BC, records showed Egyptians and Romans diving off cliffs. It did not become an organized sport, however, until the early 19th century in Great Britain.

How it works

In water polo competition, two seven-person teams (six field players and a goalie) try to throw the ball, weighing about 400 to 450 grams (1 lb), into the opponent’s goal. A game consists of four eight-minute periods and during play, athletes cannot touch the bottom or sides of the pool.

Terminology

Dribble — the method used by a player to swim with the ball

Eggbeater — a powerful leg kick technique used to vertically lift the athlete out of the water

Frontcourt — the area in front of the goal

Sprint — at the start of each quarter, each team lines up at their own goal line and at the sound of the referee’s whistle, the two players closest to the referee sprint to the ball